Aerosol dispensing cap for automated installation

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing pressurized air and/or tire sealant from a pressurized can. The device comprising a cap body, a depressor button with a lock clip, and a hose positioned within the cap body attached to the pressurized can. The lock clip locks the depressor button in the compressed position for ease during use, while a shield element keeps the depressor button in the non-compressed position for safety during non-use. The hose provides an extension to attach to a tire stem valve, while being stored and attached to the cap body of the device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application,Ser. No. 62/820,951, filed on 20 Mar. 2019. This U.S. ProvisionalApplication is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entiretyand are made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portionswhich specifically appear hereinafter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for releasing air and/or tire sealantfrom a container, to a tire, by means of a pressure source.

Description of Prior Art

Tire repair devices are primarily used for introducing air and/or tiresealant into defective tires when a flat tire occurs and for sealing adefective tire. Current devices include cans of pressurized air and/orsealant with a can topper and removable upper cap adapted to connect toa tire stem with an optional hose, and inject the can contents into thetire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for the cap of a pressurizedcan, including a hose for releasing the can contents. The apparatus ofthis invention includes a dispensing assembly that goes on the top of acan. The apparatus of this invention includes an integrated valve andlocking feature, a locking mechanism built into a valve depressorbutton, and a hose contained within the cap body.

The invention includes a device for dispensing pressurized air and/ortire sealant from a pressurized can, wherein the device includes a capbody base with a depressor button that connects to fluid inside thepressurized can. A hose is also positioned within the cap body and isalso attached with respect to the pressurized can. The hose has an endthat may attach to a stem valve of a tire. The hose also attaches to anopening in the depressor button, whereby a length of the hose extendsout from the opening and wraps around a surface of the cap body. Thehose is made up of a length and two ends; a first end which connects tothe opening of the depressor button, and an opposite end which includesthe end configured to attach to a stem valve.

The depressor button of the device sits inside a cradle on the cap body.The cradle also has a lock clip which is able to hold and lock thedepressor button in a compressed position when the depressor button ispressed. The depressor button is also partially encompassed by a shieldelement. The shield element is removably attached to the depressorbutton by at least one flexible joint. The shield element and at leastone flexible joint allow the depressor button to resist compression.This resistance is eliminated when the shield element is removed fromthe depressor button by severing the at least one flexible joint. Thecradle is secured to the cap body by a plurality of cradle anchorsspaced equidistance along an underside of the cradle.

The cap body further contains a truncated cone side wall. The truncatedcode side wall has a front wall cut-out and an opposite rear wallcut-out. A portion of the hose may be accessed from the front wall andrear wall cut-outs.

The device may further include a removable connector with at least onestem piece positioned on an outer edge of the shield element. The atleast one stem piece has a plurality of threads allowing the at leastone stem piece to fit onto tire stem valves of a variety of shapes,sizes and colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this inventionwill be better understood from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device for dispensing pressurizedair and/or sealant from a pressurized can;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a device for dispensingpressurized air and/or sealant from a pressurized can according to apreferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the device for dispensing pressurized airand/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the device for dispensing pressurized airand/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the device for dispensingpressurized air and/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the device for dispensing pressurized airand/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the device for dispensing pressurized airand/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the device for dispensing pressurized airand/or sealant according to the embodiment of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a device for dispensing pressurizedair and/or sealant according to another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a device for dispensing pressurized air and/or sealant froma pressurized can. The pressurized can includes, without limitation,pressurized air and/or sealant material to be dispensed via the device,such as into a low, flat or otherwise defective tire.

FIGS. 2-8 show a device for dispensing pressurized air and/or sealantfrom a pressurized can. The device for dispensing pressurized air and/orsealant 100 includes a cap body 102 that fits on the end of apressurized can. The cap body 102 as shown in FIG. 2 includes adepressor button 106 with an opening 120 connected to a hose 104. Alength 138 of the hose 104 is wrapped around a surface 140 of the capbody 102 to allow for simple storage of the hose 104 within the cap body102 so that the entire device 100 is self-contained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hose 104 contains a stem end 112. The stem end112 is adapted to connect to a tire stem valve 136 where the contents ofthe pressurized can may be expelled into the tire. The stem end 112includes the necessary size and connection elements (e.g., internalthreads) for attachment to a tire stem valve. The stem end componentsthereof, can vary in size, shape, amount, and/or configuration,depending on need. The hose 104 also has a first end 142 which isadapted to attach to the opening 120 of the depressor button 106.

FIG. 3 also shows the cap body 102 further comprising a truncated coneside wall 114. The truncated cone side wall 114 allows multiple capbodies 102 to be stacked on top of one another for ease and improved useof space in packaging the device 100. The truncated cone side wall 114allows the device 100 to be stackable in its manufactured state. Asshown in FIGS. 3-4, the truncated cone side wall 114 has a front wallcut out 122 and a symmetrical rear wall cut out 124 opposite the frontwall cut out 122. In this embodiment, the cut outs 122, 124 allow thehose 104 to be positioned in a ring around the inside of the truncatedcone side wall 114 so that the hose 104 may be contained within the capbody 102 of the device 100, while the hose 104 may also be accessed forremoval of the hose 104 to be extended to reach the stem valve of atire. The hose 104 is secured in this wrapped position, against theinner surface of the side wall 114 by any suitable securing element, andis able to be partially removed for use by extending the stem end 112 tomeet the tire stem of a defective tire with the necessary size andconnection elements (e.g., internal threads) for attachment to a tirestem valve. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the truncated cone side wall 114and the cut outs 122, 124, where a top 158 of the truncated cone sidewall 114 has a first diameter 152, and a bottom 154 of the truncatedcone side wall 114 has a second diameter 156, wherein the seconddiameter 156 is larger than the first diameter 152.

FIG. 5 shows the depressor button 106 secured in a cradle 110 whichcontains a lock clip 108 for providing a locking mechanism. Thedepressor button 106 also contains a shield element 126. Both the lockclip 108 and shield element 126 work in conjunction with compression ofthe depressor button 106. In embodiments of this invention, thedepressor button 106 has a locking mechanism built in, so when thedepressor button 106 is pushed downward into the cradle 110 from point Ato point B, the lock clip 108 locks the depressor button 106 in placeinside the cradle 110. The lock clip 108 aids in preventing accidentaldischarge of the contents of the pressurized can when it is not in use,and it also allows the user to fully dispense the can contents withoutdepressing the button 106 for the duration of product use. The shieldelement 126 prevents the compression of the depressor button 106 frompoint A to point B while the shield element 126 is attached to thedepressor button 106. If an attempt to compress the depressor button 106was performed with the shield element 126 still attached to thedepressor button 106, the shield element 126 would stop compression ofthe depressor button 106 by interacting with the cradle 110 which wouldnot allow the depressor button 106 to compress from point A to point B,thus keeping the pressurized can contents contained. In sum, the shieldelement 126 effectively works as an anti-tamper device.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the device 100 whereby the hose 104 iswrapped around the cradle 110 on the surface 140 of the cap body 102. Inaddition to the first end 142 and the stem end 112, the hose furthercomprises an opposite end 144. When the hose 104 is in a positionwrapped around the cap body 102, the opposite end 144 is adjacent andfacing the first end 142 of the hose 104.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7-8, the shield element 126 containsat least one flexible joint 128. The at least one flexible joint 128 iscapable of being removed from the depressor button 106, thereforeallowing the detachment of the shield element 126 from the device 100.The at least one flexible joint 128 may be made from a flexible plastic,contain perforations for removal, or be made from any other combinationof flexible composite known in the art. More than one flexible joint 128may also be present on the shield element 126, where all the flexiblejoints are severable to allow removal of the shield element 126. Oncethe shield element 126 is removed from the depressor button 106, thedepressor button 106 may be compressed from point A to B withoutinterference with the cradle 110. The lock clip 108 still retains itslocking mechanism in conjunction with the depressor button 106. As shownin FIG. 8, the locking mechanism also utilizes a plurality of cradleanchors 118 spaced equidistant around the perimeter of an underside 146of the cradle 110 to allow depression of the depressor button 106. Apassageway 116 is placed on an underside 150 of the depressor button 106to allow the contents of the pressurized can to travel from the can,through the passageway 116, through opening 120, hose 104, andultimately into the damaged tire from the stem end 112, through a fluidconnection.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention where the shieldelement 126 further comprises a removable connector 130 along an outeredge 148 of the shield element 126. As with the at least one flexiblejoint 128, the removable connector 130 is made of a flexible materialthat allows the removable connector 130 to be detached from the shieldelement 126. The removable connector 130 is comprised of at least onestem piece 132 wherein the at least one stem piece 132 is comprised ofthreads 134. The at least one stem piece 132 is adapted to fit onto atire stem valve. It may be of a variety of shapes, sizes and colors tofit on any tire stem valve and is securable to said valve via thethreads 134. While this embodiment utilizes threads 134, the at leastone stem piece 132 may be adapted to fit onto a tire stem valve viasnaps, rubber, or any other reasonable material with adhesive propertiesthat may attach to a tire stem valve and withstand the outdoor elements.The at least one stem piece 132 allows the user of the device 100 toidentify which tire(s) have been filled with air and/or tire sealant.The at least one stem piece 132 in one instance may be date stamped toalso identify when the device 100 was used. The at least one stem piece132 may also come in a variety of colors to therefore easily distinguishon which tire(s) the device 100 has been used.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been describedin relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many detailshave been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the device and placard are susceptible toadditional embodiments and that certain of the details described hereincan be varied considerably without departing from the basic principlesof the invention.

1. A device for dispensing pressurized air and/or tire sealant from apressurized can, the device comprising: a cap body; a depressor buttonin fluid communication with the pressurized can; and a hose positionedwithin the cap body and attached with respect to the pressurized can. 2.The device according to claim 1, wherein the hose comprises a stem endconfigured to attach to a stem valve.
 3. The device according to claim1, wherein the hose is configured to attach to an opening of thedepressor button, and for a length of the hose to be wrapped inside thecircumference of a surface of the cap body.
 4. The device according toclaim 3, wherein a first end of the hose is connectable to the openingof the depressor button and an opposite end includes the stem endconfigured to attach to a stem valve.
 5. The device according to claim4, wherein, in a position wrapped around the cap body, the opposite endof the hose is adjacent and facing the first end of the hose.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 3, wherein the depressor button is at leastpartially encompassed by a cradle, the cradle comprising a lock clipadapted to lock the depressor button in a compressed position.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 6, further comprising: a shield element atleast partially encompassing the depressor button; at least one flexiblejoint between the shield element and the depressor button to resistcompression of the depressor button, wherein the shield element isattachable to the depressor button by the at least one flexible joint,wherein the shield element is removable from the depressor button at theat least one flexible joint, thereby eliminating the resistance tocompress the depressor button.
 8. The device according to claim 6,further comprising a plurality of cradle anchors adapted to secure thecradle to the surface of the cap body, the plurality of cradle anchorsspaced equidistant along an underside of the cradle.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cap body further comprises a truncatedcone side wall.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein thetruncated cone side wall comprises a front wall cut-out and an oppositerear wall cut-out wherein a portion of the hose is accessible from thefront and rear wall cut-outs.
 11. The device according to claim 7,wherein the shield element further comprises a removable connector withat least one stem piece positioned on an outer edge of the shieldelement, wherein the at least one stem piece is configured to attach ona stem valve via a plurality of threads, and wherein the at least onestem piece is adapted to fit stem valves of a variety of sizes, shapesand colors.
 12. A device for dispensing pressurized air and/or tiresealant from a pressurized can, the device comprising: a cap bodyadapted to attach to the pressurized can; a hose extending from the capbody having an end configured to attach to a stem valve, the hosepositioned on a surface of the cap body; a depressor button positionedin a cradle on the surface of the cap body, the depressor buttoncomprising an opening, wherein the hose is adapted to protrude from theopening; and a shield element at least partially surrounding thedepressor button, wherein the shield element is removably connected tothe cradle by at least one flexible joint.
 13. The device according toclaim 12, wherein the shield element prevents compression of thedepressor button when the shield element is connected to the cradle bythe at least one flexible joint.
 14. The device according to claim 13,further comprising a lock clip positioned within the cradle configuredto secure the depressor button in a compressed state when the shieldelement is removed.
 14. The device according to claim 12, wherein thecradle is secured to the cap body by a plurality of cradle anchors. 15.The device according to claim 12, wherein the depressor button furthercomprises a passageway on an underside of the depressor button throughwhich tire air/sealant may pass through the opening.
 16. The deviceaccording to claim 15 wherein air/sealant may further pass through thehose and into a stem valve.
 17. The device according to claim 12, thecap body further comprising a truncated cone side wall wherein a top ofthe cap body has a first diameter, and a bottom of the cap body has asecond diameter that is larger than the first diameter.
 18. The deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein the truncated cone side wall furthercomprises a front wall cut out at the surface of the cap body, and arear wall cut out at the surface of the cap body.
 19. The deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the shield element further comprises aremovable connector with at least one stem piece positioned on an outeredge of the shield element.
 20. The device according to claim 19,wherein the at least one stem piece is configured to attach on a stemvalve via a plurality of threads, wherein the at least one stem piece isadapted to fit stem valves of a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.